Tagged: paul petrino

Dennis Johnson’s final two runs last week against Ole Miss included him breaking tackles and bulling his way into the end zone for 21 and 20 yards. Those carries are memorable because they were long and because they helped set up a score. But Johnson was picking up yards after contact throughout the day. Of his 161 yards on the ground, more than half were what the staff calls “bull yards.” Johnson’s 83 bull yards are “a lot,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said.

For yet another Ole Miss game at War Memorial Stadium, Arkansas was left mulling the “ifs.” It wasn’t as heartbreaking as the famed 1960 game decided on an official’s questionable call on a field goal. And it wasn’t as bad as the 1990 game here, where the Hogs outgained the Rebels 3 to 1 and still lost 21-17, denied at the goal line on the game’s final play. But it was close. This one also came down to the game’s final play, a 31-yard Bryson Rose field goal for a 30-27 Ole Miss win. The Razorbacks were left lamenting how many scoring opportunities were wasted by poor execution.

For yet another Ole Miss game at War Memorial Stadium, Arkansas was left mulling the “ifs.” It wasn’t as heartbreaking as the famed 1960 game decided on an official’s questionable call on a field goal. And it wasn’t bad as the 1990 game here, where the Hogs outgained the Rebels 3-to-1 and still lost 21-17, denied at the goal line on the game’s final play. But it was close. This one also came down to the game’s final play, a 31-yard Bryson Rose field goal for a 30-27 win. The Razorbacks were left lamenting how many scoring opportunities were wasted by poor execution.

For yet another Ole Miss game at War Memorial Stadium, Arkansas was left mulling the “ifs.” It wasn’t as heartbreaking as the famed 1960 game decided on an official’s questionable call on a field goal. And it wasn’t bad as the 1990 game here, where the Hogs outgained the Rebels 3-to-1 and still lost 21-17, denied at the goal line on the game’s final play. But it was close. This one also came down to the game’s final play, a 31-yard Bryson Rose field goal for a 30-27 win. The Razorbacks were left lamenting how many scoring opportunities were wasted by poor execution.

Arkansas looked strong on offense in beating Kentucky 49-7 two weeks ago even though the Razorbacks weren’t full strength. They’re optimistic that having tight end Chris Gragg back for Ole Miss will provide an additional threat. Gragg has been out since the first quarter of a 35-26 loss to Rutgers.

Arkansas found some points to go with its offensive yards against Kentucky. Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino points to the lack of turnovers by the Razorbacks. They didn’t have an interception or fumble for the first time this season and were able to score on six consecutive possessions to open the game and on seven of their first eight drives.

Optimism abounds in Fayetteville. Not just because it's time for The Showgram (the collaborative effort of ArkansasSports360.com editor Chris Bahn and Adam Alter, assistant sports director of KNWA/KARK Razorback Nation), but because Arkansas has ended its four-game losing streak.

Tyler Wilson’s ability to take a hit and keep throwing was on display again Tuesday. Hours after a mid-morning accident on Interstate 540 the Arkansas quarterback was on the field, going through practice with the Razorbacks.

This was the performance that Arkansas players envisioned. This was the end result they had in mind as the losses piled up. They felt they were much better than what they’d shown over a month of poor execution and weeks of losing. And it all came together for the Razorbacks on Saturday in a 24-7 victory at Auburn.

Tyler Wilson is the catalyst for Arkansas to break out of its four-game losing streak and win Saturday at Auburn. If he can rekindle some of the magic of last year — not to mention whatever he discovered in relief of Ryan Mallett at Auburn in 2010 — Wilson brings enough to lead Arkansas to a win. He’ll face a defense with the second-most speed the Hogs have seen this season, though. Between head coach Gene Chizik and new coordinator Brian Van Gorder, Auburn has an outstanding two-headed brain trust on the defensive side to devise a confusing plan even for a fifth-year senior quarterback. What they don’t have is the typical Auburn defensive talent across the lineup, though the ends are terrific. Look out, Arkansas tackles. What would concern me about Wilson is his want to get Arkansas out of a bad play before the snap.

While many Arkansas fans would like to believe that Bobby Petrino could wave a wand and coach anyone with two legs to victories galore in the Southeastern Conference, let’s also agree that the talent in Arkansas in 2007-08 was fortuitous for a pass-happy coach. That’s how you go 21-5 over two years while conceding the defensive side.

Paul Petrino has tried making sense of the numbers. He can’t. Arkansas ran 98 plays on Texas A&M. On those plays the Razorbacks tallied 515 yards. They finished with 10 points in a 48-point loss. How can a team put up those kind of offensive numbers and not come away with more points? It’s frustrating for Petrino, who said much of the team’s prep last week was on red zone — or as he calls it, “critical zone” — preparation.

Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino didn’t dispute that the Arkansas offense has been predictable when told that’s how quarterback Tyler Wilson described it Monday. Petrino just would have preferred that assessment stay in-house.

Tyler Wilson returned to practice after missing most of last week’s workouts and the game against Alabama because of a concussion. His practice time has been limited and at least one teammate could tell Tuesday that Wilson had been off for a few days.Tight end Chris Gragg said he asked Wilson to take a little bit off his passes. Having a rested arm led to Wilson throwing harder than Gragg expected.

Welcome to the Showgram. It's the collaborative effort of ArkansasSports360.com editor Chris Bahn and Adam Alter, assistant sports director of KNWA/KARK Razorback Nation. Think of it as sports radio at your convenience. Sports talk shouldn't be available only when you're parked at your desk or stuck in drive time. This week's episode begins with a breakdown of the colossal breakdown that was ULM 34, Arkansas 31 (OT).

Until Saturday night’s shocking 34-31 overtime loss to Louisiana-Monroe, one would have to go back 41 years to find a more stunning loss for such a promising Arkansas Razorback team to an unranked nonconference opponent. Saturday night we found a Razorback team, which somehow moved UP to No. 8 after a middling showing against Football Championship Subdivision program Jacksonville State last week, holding a 28-7 lead. However, Arkansas’ defense managed to make ULM junior Kolton Browning look like the best quarterback in the country for one night. There are no official stats for missed tackles, but the Hogs must have failed to hang onto Browning 20 times in the Warhawks' 100 offensive snaps.

Welcome to the Showgram. It's the collaborative effort of ArkansasSports360.com editor Chris Bahn and Adam Alter, assistant sports director of KNWA/KARK Razorback Nation. They'll talk Arkansas Razorbacks with some Breaking Bad and 90s rap references mixed in for good measure. Think of it as sports talk radio at your convenience. Sports talk shouldn't be available only when you're parked at your desk or in drive time traffic.

Being asked to work at the same position as Cobi Hamilton doesn’t seem like a way to guarantee more catches or additional playing time. Still, junior Javontee Herndon was open to playing behind Hamilton, a senior preseason all-conference pick. Herndon felt more comfortable at the “Z” position with Hamilton than at “X” where he began preseason camp as a starter.